Villains Land at Magic Kingdom

[Mad Dog]

I think in a company like Disney it's a lot more factional than that. Any time you get a leak, it's always worth asking yourself who that leak benefits and who it harms. That can often lead you to, if not the source, than the direction of the source.

Yes. I recall a few years back, one of the Disney president or VP (forget exact title) was using a forum member that was a prominent WDW Magic poster to leak info that was detrimental/aimed at her rivals in the company.

 

[Jake S]

Yes. I recall a few years back, one of the Disney president or VP (forget exact title) was using a forum member that was a prominent WDW Magic poster to leak info that was detrimental/aimed at her rivals in the company.

Remember when Imagineering suddenly got very leaky before they greenlit a bunch of the projects currently under construction? That was, my friends, not a coincidence!

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I do not know that this is the case here but I can only imagine how frustrating it would be to work for a company that constantly see-saws between how bold and grand it wants its creative products. Imagine getting that feedback on the proposed Star Wars land to then come up with something very ambitious (a Star Wars land not set on one of the three planets everyone can name) only to have the same corporate dweebs come back in and cut all the "superfluous" stuff that would give the concept its only chance of working.

Obviously I've got plenty of criticism to hand out to modern Imagineering but goodness I can understand if trying to thread this needle on every project is aggravating.

"We want you guys to REALLY push the limits on what people perceive a theme park land to be!"

"Okay got it! We have interactive droids and characters. Each guest can have their own personal story, and the cast members and characters in the land will cater to each guest's story!"

"nah nah not like that"

 

[Jake S]

"nah nah not like that"

I think it was probably more like, "so what's all that gonna cost?" followed by "wait, what if we took all that stuff and shoved it inside a hotel for the tiny slice of the population that is a huge Star Wars nerd and also fabulously wealthy?"

Can't wait to see the Danny Boyle movie about this.

 

[Mad Dog]

Remember when Imagineering suddenly got very leaky before they greenlit a bunch of the projects currently under construction? That was, my friends, not a coincidence!

Exactly. I for one, don't believe in coincidence. There's almost always a reason behind the curtain.

 

[fryoj]

I think it was probably more like, "so what's all that gonna cost?" followed by "wait, what if we took all that stuff and shoved it inside a hotel for the tiny slice of the population that is a huge Star Wars nerd and also fabulously wealthy?"

"Wait. Didn't that new imagineering office get axed due to budget? Now hear me out..."

 

[Freak]

Just saw this in FB. What do y’all think? Makes me cautiously optimistic about the Josh era!

 

[UNIrd]

And make it low capacity! Everyone will either have to stay onsite for early entry, pay for Disney After Hours events, or purchase $30 Individual Lightning Lanes just to get near it.

 

[TheUniC6]

Len Testa did claim the original plan for the flagship dark ride was to have it be akin to MMRR levels in quality, but Josh wanted them to go back to the drawing boarder ROTR quality, as it should be.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Somewhat related to this topic, but it does appear that Big Thunder's refurbishment is being held back by this project. Supposedly there should have been a berm (more of a retaining wall with trees) built between it and the upcoming expansion by now.

It seems like Len's comments are true (but not as recent - maybe a few months ago), and they are just now trying to push some of the permitting to get Big Thunder operational again.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Just saw this in FB. What do y’all think? Makes me cautiously optimistic about the Josh era!
View attachment 28995

FWIW I've heared this is not true.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

FWIW I've heared this is not true.

Heard some gossip to expect little to be announced.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

If the main ride was supposed to be Mickey and Minnie’s level then yes, it should be reworked. M&M is perfect but not what I’d expect for a villains ride. Needs to be grand and biggest ride at Magic Kingdom.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

If the main ride was supposed to be Mickey and Minnie’s level then yes, it should be reworked. M&M is perfect but not what I’d expect for a villains ride. Needs to be grand and biggest ride at Magic Kingdom.

I still assume we'll get an updated "Oops, All Villains" version of Snow White's Scary Adventures where we're flung into a realm/castle/mansion they all inhabit but with M&MRR's system; Or the Rise/Scoop system they use for Peter Pan at Disney Sea. Here's to hoping for practical effects abound, Minimal screens/digital tech, and Old school flavor in a new school execution. If they learned anything from Monsters Unchained, i hope it's that. I'm hoping for Maleficent(human form), Evil Queen, Cruella, Captain Hook, Jafar, Hades, Facilier, Queen of Hearts, Mother Gothel, Gaston, etc.

And i also still think we'll be getting Guardians of the Galaxy's story telling coaster for a Maleficent-dragon-showdown that weaves around the park and has you confront bigger/outside villains not included in the bigger dark-ride like Ursala, Scar, Shere Khan, Chernabog, and the Horned King to name a few that people might not expect to see on a ride like that. (A man can dream)

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I still assume we'll get an updated "Oops, All Villains" version of Snow White's Scary Adventures where we're flung into a realm/castle/mansion they all inhabit but with M&MRR's system; Or the Rise/Scoop system they use for Peter Pan at Disney Sea. Here's to hoping for practical effects abound, Minimal screens/digital tech, and Old school flavor in a new school execution. If they learned anything from Monsters Unchained, i hope it's that. I'm hoping for Maleficent(human form), Evil Queen, Cruella, Captain Hook, Jafar, Hades, Facilier, Queen of Hearts, Mother Gothel, Gaston, etc.

And i also still think we'll be getting Guardians of the Galaxy's story telling coaster for a Maleficent-dragon-showdown that weaves around the park and has you confront bigger/outside villains not included in the bigger dark-ride like Ursala, Scar, Shere Khan, Chernabog, and the Horned King to name a few that people might not expect to see on a ride like that. (A man can dream)

This is pretty much what I'm expecting, even though I'd also be down for a more surprising premise.

Like you said, I think the premises of the two rides (if there are only two) will mirror the scales at which the various villains are working. The indoor E-ticket dark ride can be more of a cabinet of curiosities where the villains vamp about their obsessions. Meanwhile, the E-ticket coaster would revolve around stopping villains who want to annihilate the world, something the minor villains, still bound by the earthly foibles of pride and greed, are not too excited about.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

FWIW I've heared this is not true.

To expand: I think I know what's going on here, don't agree with the conclusions. Something is up.

 

[belloq87]

I still assume we'll get an updated "Oops, All Villains" version of Snow White's Scary Adventures where we're flung into a realm/castle/mansion they all inhabit but with M&MRR's system; Or the Rise/Scoop system they use for Peter Pan at Disney Sea. Here's to hoping for practical effects abound, Minimal screens/digital tech, and Old school flavor in a new school execution. If they learned anything from Monsters Unchained, i hope it's that. I'm hoping for Maleficent(human form), Evil Queen, Cruella, Captain Hook, Jafar, Hades, Facilier, Queen of Hearts, Mother Gothel, Gaston, etc.

And i also still think we'll be getting Guardians of the Galaxy's story telling coaster for a Maleficent-dragon-showdown that weaves around the park and has you confront bigger/outside villains not included in the bigger dark-ride like Ursala, Scar, Shere Khan, Chernabog, and the Horned King to name a few that people might not expect to see on a ride like that. (A man can dream)

This is pretty much what I'm expecting, even though I'd also be down for a more surprising premise.

Like you said, I think the premises of the two rides (if there are only two) will mirror the scales at which the various villains are working. The indoor E-ticket dark ride can be more of a cabinet of curiosities where the villains vamp about their obsessions. Meanwhile, the E-ticket coaster would revolve around stopping villains who want to annihilate the world, something the minor villains, still bound by the earthly foibles of pride and greed, are not too excited about.

I think the real difficulty is figuring out how "story"-driven this land and the attractions are actually going to be. Because, logically, there's not a huge reason for most of these villains to get together, even if summoned/conjured to the land (i.e. what could Gaston, for example, possibly add to a team-up that might otherwise include the likes of Greek gods and sorcerers/witches of various kinds?).

I'd make sure most of these signature villains were at least featured in meet-and-greet opportunities in the land, but for the rides, I kind of think you want to go with the biggest (in terms of powers) and most imposing (in terms of not too goofy).

If this is truly a land where "there might not be a happily ever after," I want the rides to have some threat to them (as much as you can get away with in Magic Kingdom).

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

there's not a huge reason for most of these villains to get together

I'm a mid 20's professional villain and I'd like a third space to unwind with villains I shared common interests with (animal cruelty, world domination, capitalist accelerationism)

Ho, ho, a magical portal that takes me to a realm of great villains? I have been deemed sufficiently dastardly to join this august body of esteemed crooks and sinners? Free booze? Don't mind if I do.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

I think the real difficulty is figuring out how "story"-driven this land and the attractions are actually going to be. Because, logically, there's not a huge reason for most of these villains to get together, even if summoned/conjured to the land (i.e. what could Gaston, for example, possibly add to a team-up that might otherwise include the likes of Greek gods and sorcerers/witches of various kinds?).

I'd make sure most of these signature villains were at least featured in meet-and-greet opportunities in the land, but for the rides, I kind of think you want to go with the biggest (in terms of powers) and most imposing (in terms of not too goofy).

If this is truly a land where "there might not be a happily ever after," I want the rides to have some threat to them (as much as you can get away with in Magic Kingdom).

It might be lazy or it might be informed, but I'm really not looking much further than Fantasmic, the new Villains show at HS, Mickey's Not So Scary Party at MK, Kingdom Hearts, and House of Mouse to draw conclusions. I don't think there needs to be a grand reason other than "We're invading Fantasyland's Dream-like atmosphere with our own Nightmare aesthetic - deal with it!" Kinda generic write-off that they do for Not So Scary every year.

I think connectivity makes it interesting as to what plots are derived between the two but i assume there is a castle/manor where they coalesce to make for an interesting build/set piece within the land to house the dark-ride itself. I'm sure the relationship management between them is actually the most fun aspect about building out the stories here. I can see Gaston and Clayton sitting in a hunting lodge, drinking, minding their own business when we bust in on a ghost-led trolly, only for them to look the other way and continue doing what they're doing out of ignorant superiority. Meanwhile, Oogie Boogie is playing a game of dice with Facilier and Hades in a pseudo-casino-game room when they wager OUR SOULS on the next round, before we rush out of the room. Playful vignettes like this are probably going to be the meat and potatoes of the dark-ride. "You made it in here, somehow, and we'll be damned if you find a way out!" ... "Oh look, they found a way out!" Exit through the giftshop.

Whereas, the coaster is probably just going to be same coin, other side, different villains. "Oh, you want a tour around the land? I'LL GIVE YOU A TOUR ALRIGHT." Dragon chase ensues.

EDIT: You mentioned a sense of danger // threatening atmosphere and i want to reiterate that i'd be suggesting Snow White's Scary Adventures as far as tone goes. That ride gave me the heebie-jeebies even as a teen. The Evil Queen was practically a baked-in jump-scare machine!

 

[Clive]

It might be lazy or it might be informed, but I'm really not looking much further than Fantasmic, the new Villains show at HS, Mickey's Not So Scary Party at MK, Kingdom Hearts, and House of Mouse to draw conclusions. I don't think there needs to be a grand reason other than "We're invading Fantasyland's Dream-like atmosphere with our own Nightmare aesthetic - deal with it!" Kinda generic write-off that they do for Not So Scary every year.

I think connectivity makes it interesting as to what plots are derived between the two but i assume there is a castle/manor where they coalesce to make for an interesting build/set piece within the land to house the dark-ride itself. I'm sure the relationship management between them is actually the most fun aspect about building out the stories here. I can see Gaston and Clayton sitting in a hunting lodge, drinking, minding their own business when we bust in on a ghost-led trolly, only for them to look the other way and continue doing what they're doing out of ignorant superiority. Meanwhile, Oogie Boogie is playing a game of dice with Facilier and Hades in a pseudo-casino-game room when they wager OUR SOULS on the next round, before we rush out of the room. Playful vignettes like this are probably going to be the meat and potatoes of the dark-ride. "You made it in here, somehow, and we'll be damned if you find a way out!" ... "Oh look, they found a way out!" Exit through the giftshop.

Whereas, the coaster is probably just going to be same coin, other side, different villains. "Oh, you want a tour around the land? I'LL GIVE YOU A TOUR ALRIGHT." Dragon chase ensues.

Magic Mirror portals to the Villainous Realm. Done.